- Lyricist
- Kannadasan
- Singer
- L. R. Eswari
- Music director
- Shankar Ganesh
- Movie name
- Kannamma
- Movie release year
- 1972
- Lyrics added on
- 9 Jun 2023
Lyrics & meaning
Beyond the translation
Overall song meaning
The song is a deep, philosophical lament on the superficiality of material wealth contrasted with the rarity of emotional and spiritual purity. The speaker observes a world filled with affluence and wealthy individuals, yet questions where true, deceit-free hearts have gone. Through vivid imagery—such as a caged cuckoo whose melody disperses unheard or a bloomed jasmine whose tender caretaker is absent—the lyrics paint a picture of trapped emotions, unappreciated goodness, and quiet suffering.
Writing craft
Poetic devices
Edhugai (Second-letter Rhyming)
“Ninaippavai kodi vaarthaigal illai / Nerungavum aasai thairiyam illai”
The second consonant sound matches across lines, creating a rhythmic and melancholic flow (e.g., 'Ninaippavai' and 'Nerungavum').
Metaphor (Trapped Soul Imagery)
“Koondil irundhu kuyil ondru paadum”
The caged cuckoo ('koondil irundhu kuyil') serves as a metaphor for an innocent soul whose song/voice reaches far but remains imprisoned.
Rhetorical Question
“Kallamilladha ullangal engae”
The repeated existential question highlights the loss of moral values and genuine affection in a materialistic world.
Anaphora (Repetition for Emphasis)
“Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae”
The repetition of 'Selvangal ingae selvargal ingae' reinforces the presence of physical wealth to contrast it sharply with emotional scarcity.
Did you know?
Trivia
While singer L. R. Eswari was famously known during the 1960s and 1970s for her high-energy dance numbers and cabaret songs, lyricist Kannadasan and the music director duo Shankar-Ganesh utilized her unique voice here for a deeply emotional and reflective philosophical composition.
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